Liver Conditions We Treat

Liver specialists (hepatologists) at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles treat all types of liver conditions in children. Some children are born with liver conditions that cause liver damage or liver failure, while others develop liver problems later in life.

If your child’s liver doesn’t work properly, our team may recommend a liver transplant. Your child receives exceptional care at our Liver Transplant Program. CHLA has one of the nation’s most experienced and successful programs for children with life-threatening liver conditions. We offer all types of liver transplants to help your child enjoy a full life.

Types of Pediatric Liver Conditions That May Require Liver Transplants

Different liver conditions in children can cause liver failure, which leads to the need for a new liver. These include but are not limited to:

Acute (sudden-onset) liver disease

  • Acute hepatitis, including infectious A, B and C viruses
  • Fulminant hepatic failure (FHF)

Chronic (long-term) liver disease

  • Alagille syndrome
  • Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency
  • Autoimmune hepatitis
  • Biliary atresia
  • Cirrhosis
  • Cystic fibrosis
  • Hepatitis B and hepatitis C
  • Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
  • Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
  • Primary sclerosing cholangitis

Liver tumors and liver cancer

  • Childhood hepatocellular carcinoma
  • Hepatoblastoma

Metabolic liver diseases

  • Crigler-Najjar syndrome
  • Glycogen storage disease
  • Maple syrup urine disease
  • Organic acedimias
    • Proprionic acidemia
    • Methymalonic acidemia
  • Progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC)
  • Urea cycle defects
    • Ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency
    • Carbamoyl phosphate synthetase (CPS) deficiency
  • Wilson disease

Liver Transplant Care at Children's Hospital Los Angeles

Our expert surgeons perform all types of pediatric liver transplants. Learn more about the leading-edge care our Liver Transplant Program provides.

Contact us

The Liver Transplant Program at CHLA welcomes new patients, referrals and second opinions. Please contact us to make an appointment.

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